Gear shifting mechanism



Nov. 14, 1933. B. M. VAN DERHOFF GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 elf/706i Ber/1H J ATTORNEY- /z 49 BY Nov. 14, 1933. B. M. VAN DERHOFF 1,934,395

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VIN TOR Nov. 14, 1933.

B M. VAN DERHOFF GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE Y IIIIIIIII' Patented Nov. 14, 1933 t i J I I A F FTMME'CH H Bern M.- Van Derhofi, Newark, N J-JT- V Application December 278, 1931., Serial No.'583, 477

' G'Clainis. (011 75591;

- This invention relates,-'generally, to .thelshifting -of gears such as those occurring in. the transmissions of' automobilesand the. like;- andthe invention has reference, moreparticularly,ito;a

novel gear shifting mechanism which is adapted to relieve the machine operator of .theimanual effort required toshift-gearsJ- 1 Heretofore, in shifting. gears on automotive vehicles to obtain various speeds-,ithas been necessary for the machine operator to manually shift the gears. as by means of a gearshift-lever, while at the-same time ithas been ne'cessary for. the operator to operate the clutclr -in synchronism with the gear shifting? operations. operations, namely, that of'shiftingthe gearsand operating the clutch, require: considerable skill and even experienced operatorsjofttimes clasli the gears of the transmission owingtotheirafail-.

ure to properly time the shifting operations with speed of the'vehicleand engine. I p .The principal object of'the-present invention is to provide a novel Jgearshiftingimechanism which, when installed in an automotive. vehicle or the lil e,.is adapted to relieve the machineoperator of the necessity of manually. shifting the gears as .well as operating theflclutche i 2 Another .objectof the present invention lies in the provision of a novelgear shifting mechanism which-is 'of' simple I construction and which. is

' adapted to be set'in operation toeffect any desired speed change by the mere'simple and easy movement of o'neor two control levers." r "Another object of the present. inventionisyto '35 provideanovel gearshifting mechanism. which'is adapted to:.operate the clutch and the gearshift in such timed 'sequencethat gear clashing is eliminated and'allshiftingis done with the maximum possible speed taking into consideration the gine speed at any particular: time. --Othe r objects of thisinvention; not at..this time more particularly enumerated,-will-be clear; 1y understood from-the- 'following detailed .description'of the same. 1 I

The -,invention:is clearly illustrated in'the ac-Y companying drawings, in which: i Fig. 1 is a planview with. parts broken away of the novel gear' shifting-mechanism of themes- I ent invention-applied to. an automobile vehicle,

the'said mechanism beinggshown with the gear shift in neutral position. Fig: 2 is a view similarto Fig. 1 'but' illustrates the gear shifting mechanism operating t'ofshift the? gears into ..-.intermediate. or second speed -position.-

-the' gears into reverse pos'i'tion. I

h 'duai operating the gear shifting mechanism ofthis invention.

respect. to the operations of'the clutch-and the cam plate '9. p

' mission. cover. member5'.' The'slide plate 4 has PFig.:3- is'a .view similar to Fig.1 butillustrates the gear shifting mechanism operating to shift .-Fig, '4 is 'a-aview in elevation rofxthe structure own in -Fig. '3.:-

Fig. Gisa somewhat enlarged view looking at the left sideoftheistructure shown in Fig; 1' Fig. 7 is a somewhat enlarged view looking at the left side of the structure shown inFig. 2 and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, schematic perspective viewillustrating a typical lever arrangement for "Similar-characters of reference" are employed in all of the above 1 described views to indicate corresponding parts; J

Referring now to'ithe said drawings, the reference numeral-1- designatesthef transmissionhousingof'an automotive -vehicle. equippe'd with the novel gear shifting mechanism of this invention.

The transmission housing 1 is provided with the,

usual: pair of shifting forks 2 therewithin. Shifting forks. 2 are 'jrespectively .'connected to slide plates 3 and .4 which are mounted for reciprocatin'g movement, longitudinally of the vehicle, with-' in a transmission cover member 5. The slide plateB' a-pin '6' extending upwardly there-- from, which pin carries'a roller 7 thatrides within a cam slot 8 provided in a transversely movable Cam pl'ate 9-"is'"guided in its transverse move-- ments. by suitable guides formed: in'the trans.-

a pin .fi 'extending upwardly therefrom, which pin carriesa roller. 7"th'atr'ides within a cam slot 8 provided in'the cam plate 9. The cam slots 8 and 8.;of;cam.plate 9. are of such shape as to cause the proper shifting movements of the shifting forks=2 as this cam plate isjmovedtransversely of "the transmission cover member 5. The cam plate 9 is provided with an. upwardly extending projection or abutment 10 which extends into I a transverse slot ll' provided in a yoke mem- 100 ber 12. xi 1 Coil compression springs 13 are contained within slot .11 at the sides of projection 10 and serve to resiliently transmit driving forcefrom the yoke member 12to. the projection 10. The cam plate 105 9 is illustratedas provided with vertical studs '14 which project through transverse guide slots provided inthe yoke member 12. Studs 14"operating within the slots 15 serve in conjunction with projection 10 to maintain yoke! member 12 in 110 t transverse alignment with the cam plate 9 while permitting limited transverse movement of the yoke member with respect to the cam plate, such limited relative transverse movement being possible by compressing the springs 13. Yoke member 12 has a nut or depending projection 16 fixed to the under-surface thereof, which nut is provided with a threaded, transverse'aperture for receiving the threaded portion 17 of an operating shaft 13. Operatingshaft 13 extends transversely through a frame member 19 and is turnably mounted in bearings 22 and 23 provided in this frame member.

Spaced bevel gears 24 and 25. are. turnably mounted on the operating shaft 18 adjacent bearings 22 and 23 respectively. Bevel gears 24 and.

25 are apart of cooperating gearinghaving, a third bevel gear 27 meshing with gears 24 and 25.

Bevel gear 27 is fixed on a drive shaft 28,]whichdrive shaft extends into the rear portion of the engine housing 29 and issuitably driven from the engine as by means. of gearing (not. shown). connecting the sameto. the. cam slzlaft;forexarnple,v

The jaws of clutch 3,0 are. adapted to. cooperate. with conforming recesses formed in the gears 24 and 25, whereby therotative movement of either of these gears. may beselectivel transmitted to the drive shaft 18. A shifting fork32 isslidably mounted on transverse rods 33;. carried by the frame member-19. Shifting fork- 32 engages in an annular groove 34 providedin the clutch 30 for effecting the-shifting of this clutch: while permitting rotative movement thereof.

A'lever 35 is pivoted at 36- upon framemember 19 and is pivotally connected: at 37. to. the shifting arm consisting of spring leaves 38. which resilient arm is adapted to be actuated by meansof asuitable leveror. lever system 3.5.39 (see Fig. 8) connected to. the forward ends. of spring leaves 38, which lever or lever system 39 extends to a point within convenient reach of themachine operator. Thus, by shifting lever 39, as shown in Fig. 8,.to the left, thelever 35; is. moved to; the right as shown in Fig. 2 to effect the engagementof clutch' 30. with bevel gear 24, whereas,if lever,39.is-shifted to the right, the clutch 30 is:caused to engage bevel gear 25, as shown in Fig. 3. When lever 39 and lever 35 are in their intermediate positions shown in Figs. land 8; the double acting squarejawed clutch 30 does not engageeither of the gears 24 or 25', and hence 'nodrive takes. place between drive shaft 28 and operating shaft 18.

Shifting fork 32 hasone end portion of a transverse s'hift rod 41 secured thereto. The other end portion of shift rod 41 is securedto atrans.-.

' versely extending "rack plate 42F Rackplate 42 ismounted. for transversesliding movement in a guide aperture provided in the yoke 12. Rack plate] 42 has. five longitudinally spaced: notches 43, 44; 45, 46 and 47'therein; 'Notches 43 to 47 are adapted to be selectively engaged by the in of stop pin 49 is pressed by spring 50 into engagement with a slide rod 51 which is slidably mounted in a suitable transverse slide bearing aper ture provided in the yoke member 12. The outer fever, when the stop pin 49 is urged inwardly against the tension of compression spring 50 by either of the beveled end walls 53 or 53, the

inner end portion ofthis stop pin is caused to engage in a. selected one of the recesses 43 to 47. Slide rod '5l is adapted to be manipulated by a suitable lever system such aslever system 7l72 of Fig. 8 shown'connected to a link 54 attached to the, slide ro,d.5.1, which lever system extends to. apoint. within convenient reach of themachine operator; In Fig. 8. of the drawings. the

- upper ,end of lever '72. is shown as. movable along a. scale. "73 mounted on the dash 74, on which scale is. marked the-several vehicle speeds, including neutral and reverse. The..m achine.operator therefor by manipulating such lever system, may shift the slide rod 51- transversely in either direction soas to cause either the beveled end wall 53. or the beveled end wall 53. to engage the outer end of; stop pin. 49 at. the proper time to effect the engagement of the inner end portion .of this pin with-a selected one of the notches 43 to. 47.. The rack plate 42 is provided at its ends with depending stop lugs. 66' and 67, respectively, whichare adapted toengage stop shoulders 68 and. 69, respectively, provided on theyoke member L2". I

Thefreeend pontionof operating shafti18 has a pinion 55 fixed. thereon adjacent the frame member 19. Pinion 55. operates through an idler gear 561to. drive a gear 57 (see especially Figs. 6 and 7.). Gear 517' has a. crank arm 58' secured thereto, which crank arm is pivotally connected ated to. disengage the vehicle clutch at anytime without-"interference from the links 660i" 559. On the other hand; the turningof "gear '57 by rotating the operating shaft. 1.8, will cause movement of links 59 and 60 so that link 60 acting upon the projection 63, serves to effect the dis engagement of'the vehicle clutch.

In operation,- if it be assumed that thevehicle-transmission isin; neutral position, the several parts of the apparatus will be in theiposiitions shown in. Figs. '1, 6' and 8, The: double acting square-jawed clutch 30.-isnow in itsintermediate' or neutral position, whereby the roe tative moyement'ofi drive shaft. 28. is. not. trans.- mitted to operating shaft 18; The vehicleclutch is engaged at tln's; time. Assume that it. is. now desired? torshifit the: vehicle transmission directly to. second or intermediate sp'eediJTo'. 'accome plish thisresult, the lever system 71-7.2.icon.-

the moving rack plate '42 will have eifected the nected to slide rod 51 is moved so that the upper end of lever 72 is positioned opposite the figure 2 of scale 73, causing the slide r0d;51' to move somewhat toward the left in Fig, 1 or intothe position in Fig. 2; Lever 39is now actuated towards the right; as shown bythe arrow in this figure. As yoke member-12 commences tomove toward the right, it actsthrough compression springs 13 and projection'lO to move the cam plate 9 also toward the right; As 'cam plate 9 moves towardthe right, it causes rollers ,7 and 7"to ride in the cam slots 8 and 8, thereby eii'ecting the shifting of slide plates'3'and 4 together with shifting forks 2 to cause the desiredshifting of the transmission gears. Owing to'the presence of the compression springs 13, the drive between yoke member 12 and'camplate 9 is cushioned so as to facilitate the. movement of rollers '7 and 7' along their'respective slots 8 and 8'., As the yoke member 12 movesalong it moves over the statio'nary'rack plate. 42 and causes the outer end of stop pin 49 to'slide over the recess portion 52 of the slide rod51.

Just before the rollers land '7 have reached their second or intermediate speed positions as shown in Fig. 2, theoute'rend portion of stop pin 49 engages the, beveled end 53' of slide rod '51, causing the inner end portion of this stop pin ment of the square-jawed clutch away from 1 bevel gear 24 so that just as the rollers 7 and 7" reach positions corresponding to second speed,

disengagement of clutch 30 from bevel gear 24, thereby breaking the drive to operating shaft 18 and stopping themovement of the shifting mechanisms During the. movement of the shifting mechanism to effect the engagement'of the transmission gears'in'second speed position, the operating shaft 18 turned pinion 55, causing rotation of gear 57 to eifect the disengagement of the vehicle clutch, as shownin Fig. '7, priorto the meshing of the gears in second speed. Just as the gears become completely meshed, the: gear57 moves againinto the position shown in Fig. '6,

thereby causing the .reengagement of the vehicle 1 clutch. The vehicle is now operating in second speed.

Assuming that it'is now desired to operate the vehicle in reverse, the'lever 39 is moved to the right as shown in Fig. 8, causing lever to move 'to the left as shown in Fig. 3 and effecting the engagement of clutch with pinion; 25. The operating shaft 18 now commences to revolve in the opposite direction to that previously described, causing yoke member 12 to move toward the left, as shown in Fig. 3 and effecting move clutch is operated by gear 57 to disengage the drive to the vehicle wheels and as the gears become completely meshed the vehicle clutch is engaged for a time. As the rollers 7 and 7' approachthe reverse speed positibnyas shown in Fig.3, the stop lug-66 on rack plate "12 engages stopshoulder 68on the yoke member 12,'so-'that further'movement of the yoke member 12 causes.

the rack plate 42 to move towards the left,' as

viewed in-Fig. 3,eifecting movement of clutch 30 awaylfrom the bevel gear 25.

Just as rollers 7 and 7 reach the positionscor- 1 I respondingtoreverse speedof the transmission gears, the clutch 30 will have disengaged gear 25, thereby ending the" drive'of-operating shaft 18 'andc'ausing the several parts of the mechanism to come to rest with the vehicle gears in reverse speed. Whengoinginto reverse it isune necessary to move the lever .72 controllingslide' gear shifting mechanism will pass-through the various speeds and finallybring the machine into third speed at which time stop lug-67 by engaging stop I shoulder 69 effects the "disengagement of clutch 30. from gear 24. Drive shaft 28 is so geared to the engine cam shaft: or other driving part that'thevehicle willremain fora desired time in each successive speed as the mechanism passes through such speed.

, It'vvill thus be noted that by a simple manipulation of lever 39 the vehicle operator may bring the vehicle from intermediate or low. speed orv from neutral into either high speed or reverse and by manipulating both levers 39 and '72 he may bring the vehicle into either low 'or intermediate speed. If desired,-a single acting liquid check cylinder 'lfimay be connected to the engine casing .29 and its piston 77 connected to clutch l lever'61 asshown in Fig. '7, to effect the slowing up of the motion of this lever during the engageing movement of the clutch. This liquid check cylinder 76 would not aifect the rapid disengagement of the clutch by lever system 59'-60.

As many changes could bemade in :the above construction and many apparently widely difier-i ent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof-,5, as defined by the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descripation or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting arranged to be driven from the vehicle engine,

manually operable lever mechanism connected to said gearing, an operating shaft arranged to be ed upon said operating shaft, a cam plate resiliently connected to said yoke member, said cam plate having cam slots therein, slide members mounted on the vehicle transmission for operating the gears thereoisaid slide members having rollers engaged in said cam slots, whereby actuation of said cam plate by said yoke member, moving under the driving action of said operating shaft, effects shifting movements of the transmission gears. v y v ZVAgear shifting mechanism for shifting the transmission gears of a vehicle and for operating driven from said gearing, a yoke member thread- I -to.,be driven from said bevel gearing, a yoke mem 7 ,ber threaded upon said operating shaft, a cam platev connected" to said yoke member, said cam plate having cam slots therein, slide members mounted on the vehicle transmission for operating the gears thereof, said slide members having rollers engaged in said cam slots, whereby actuation of said cam plate by saidyolre member, moving. under the driving action of said .0 cratingshaft, effects shifting movements of thetransmissiongears, gearing driven by said operating shaft, and lever mechanism connected to the vehicle-:clutbhand actuatedby said gearing for effecting the shifting of :the vehicle clutch in proper timedsequence. with the shifting of the transmission gears.

3. A gear shifting mechanism for shifting the transmission gears of a vehicle comprising, a drive-shaft arranged. to be driven from the vehicle engine, a beveled gear connected to saiddrive shaft, an operating shaft disposed at right angles to' said drive shaft, a pair of beveled gears rotatably mounted on said operating shaft and meshing tively rotated in either direction, manually opera-' ble lever mechanism for shifting said clutch, a

yoke member threaded upon said operating shaft,

and cam means driven by said yoke member for effecting the shifting of the vehicle transmission gears.

4; A gear shifting mechanism. for shiftin'gthe transmission gearsof a vehicle comprising, a drive beveled gears in driving relation to said operating shaft, wherebysaid operating shaft may be-selectiyely rotated in either directi manually operating leveliniechanism for hifting said'clutch, a yoke memberthreaded uponsaid operating shaft to be driven by the latter, cam means driven by saidyoke member for effecting the shifting of the vehicle transn'iission-gears, a shift rod for effecting the disengagement of said clutch, and means connected to said shift rod and'arranged for actuation by said yoke member to effect the disengagementof said clutch upon the completion of a desired gear shifting movement of said cam means. r

r 5. A-gearing shiftingmechanism for shifting the transmission gears of a vehicle comprising, a drive shaft'arranged to be driven from thevehicle engine, a beveled gear connected to said drive shaft, an operating shaft disposed at right angles to said drive shaft, a pair of beveled gears rotatably 'mounted on said operating shaft and meshing with said first mentioned beveled gear, a clutch for selectively connecting eachof said pair of beveled gears to said operating shaft, whereby said operating shaft may be selectively rotated in either direction, manually operable lever mechanism for shiftingsaid clutch, a yoke member threaded upon said operating shaftand driven by the latter, cam means driven by said yoke member for effecting the shifting of the vehicle transmission gears, a shift rod, a rack plate secured to said shift rod, a stop pin carried by said yoke'member and adapted to engage said rack plateto cause movement of said shift rod andeffect disengagement ofsaid 'clutch..and a manually operable slide rod cooperating with said stop pin for causing the engagement of saidpin with said rack plate. I i

6. A gear shifting mechanism for shifting the transmissiongearsof a vehicle and'for operating the vehicle clutch comprising, a drive shaft arranged to be driven f om the vehicle engine, a

beveled gear connected to said drive shaft, an operating; shaft disposed at right angles to said drive shaft, vapair of beveledgears rotatably mounted on said operating shaft and meshing with said first mentioned beveled gear, a clutch for selectively connecting each of saidpair of beveled gears to said operating shaft, whereby said operating shaft may be selectively rotated in either direction, manually operable lever mechanism for operating said clutch, a yoke-member threaded upon said operating shaft and driven by the latter, cam means driven by said yoke member for effecting the shifting of the transmission gears, a shift rod, a rack plate secured to said shiftrod, a stoppin carried by said yoke member and adapted to engage-said rack plate to cause movement of said shift rod and effect'disengage ment of said clutch, a manually operable slide rod cooperating with said stop pin for causing the engagement of said pin With said rack plate, gear- 

